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But as TV presenter Tom Heap strolled round the village, he singled out the pretty village as an example of a village that has lost its community amenities – and its mojo.

“Welcome to Bickington, population 336: shops zero, school zero, pubs zero. It is now home to retirees and commuters.”

Bickington (Image: Daniel Clark)

Residents had said the decline of the village was partly down to a planning issue as in the 1990s, a village plan was drawn up with an emphasis was on preserving Bickington’s charm and quaintness, by blocking any new homes being built.

locked up 2019

The ‘bizarrely drawn line’ was brought into sharp focus this week when plans for nine homes – four of which would be affordable – for land to the north of Old Hill went before Teignbridge planners.

Where The New Homes Were Hoped To Be Built (Image: Daniel CLark)

But the site for South West Wholesale Ltd’s scheme is literally the wrong side of a historic line on a map and therefore it is classed as being within the open countryside for planning purposes.

Teignbridge District Council’s Local Plan does allow housing in the open countryside, but the sites must be 100 per cent affordable. As only 44 per cent of the homes planned were affordable, the scheme was rejected.

What happened when we visited Bickington

In light of this, the Local Democracy Reporting Service visited the village on Wednesday morning to find out what Bickington was really like.

However, having spent the best part of an hour walking up and down the village there was a problem – there was no-one to talk to.

Having parked the car at the entrance to the village off the A383, I walked the length of the village, up through the narrow streets, past the church, the village hall, and to the site of the former pub, and back again, and didn’t see a single other person.

The village hall was closed, and even the church was inaccessible with no way of getting into the locked churchyard.

Even walking past the houses, it was difficult to confirm that anyone actually lived in Bickington.

No lights were on, no residents were seen going about their daily lives inside their homes, and the only sign of any life was a postman getting into his car and driving away, spotted from a distance.

Tuesday’s planning meeting saw councillors agree that sadly, even 100 homes wouldn’t be enough to bring back the long-lost community facilities.

Cllr Jackie Hook proposed that the plans be refused, although she said that she could see how the site should be developed.

She said: “The site is in the open countryside as defined by the village boundary and Bickington is being treated the same as any other village with a tight settlement limit. It does leave the site as being in the open countryside and we do have a duty to protect our countryside.

Cllr Jackie Hook

“But I can see the site does look to be in the middle of the village and if there is community support for developing the site, it could be a very sustainable site.

“I don’t have any huge issue with the site being developed but I do have an issue that the amount of market housing, and it has not been justified by the applicant. Nine homes won’t open any new additional facilities and even around 50 to 100 wouldn’t either, and that is a sad reflection of where we are.

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“So the only justification for allowing this would be for affordable homes or that we can see the justification for it. I don’t see how five open market houses can be justified and they seem reluctant to bring forward a viability statement, so I recommend refusal.”

The housing plans proved divisive in the village. Cllr John Nutley and Cllr Huw Cox, who represent the ward, said that they considered the small development will allow members of families’ living in Bickington to stay within the village and allow those that have had to move away due to lack of housing being able to return to the village.

The application was also supported by the parish council, with letters of support from residents saying that it would be seen as a means to enhancing the village.

An empty Bickington (Image: Daniel Clark)

Messages included that it will improve the quality and choice of homes in the declining village, new homes will re-invigorate Bickington which lacks a critical mass which has led to the closure of the pub, post office and a garage, and that it would keep the village vibrant, and that it was sensible infill development.

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Cllr Cox, who represents the ward in which Bickington lies, had called for the application to be decided by the committee.

He said: “This will provide the much needed affordable local housing and it is supported by the parish council. A number of residents have seen their family forced to move away as there are no properties available for them and cannot afford to buy the ones that there are, and this give them a chance to move back. The need for this does exist. I think the proposed development provides a good mix of housing in the centre of the village.”

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Cllr Adrian Patch, whose Haytor ward did contain Bickington before the May election, also backed the proposal, saying that the village is in dire need of some life being put into it.

Cllr Adrian Patch, Teignbridge councillor for Haytor

Cllr Path said: “I am against greenfield development but the designation of open countryside is purely the artifact of a bizarrely drawn village envelope. The general consensus of the public is that it is not open countryside.

“It is nationally recognised the village is dying on its feet due to a lack of services and homes. In terms of what this village needs in terms of housing, I would be minded to approve this.

“The open countryside designation is an artifact of just how the map was drawn. This is a village that has been in dire need of some life being put into it.”

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The applicants at Tuesday’s meeting recanted the tale of how the decline of the village has been well documented and the need for new housing has been recognised by the parish council.

They said: “It is clear that proposal needs to contain open market and affordable housing to reinvigorate and regenerate the village. There is support from the community for this.”

Bickington Village Hall (Image: Daniel Clark)

They added that given the size of the village, Bickington is surprisingly well connected to other communities. It is served directly by not one, but two main bus route. There are cycle paths and footpaths to the nearest school. Industrial estates at Heathfield and Trago Mils are in walking distance.

But concerns were raised by residents over a lack of parking on Old Hill, that nine homes will not revitalize the village, and the complete lack of amenities whatsoever in Bickington.

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At the meeting, a Mrs Davis spoke on behalf of the residents who objected to the plans. She said: “This would destroy the character of the village and destroy the village feel. Building here is contrary to the Local Plan and nothing has changed from the refusal for the previous application last year. Allowing it to go ahead would set a precedent.”

Empty Bickington (Image: Daniel Clark)

Cllr Alistair Dewhirst added that if they gave the go ahead for the nine homes, it wouldn’t change the character of the villages. He said: “This wouldn’t produce any new shops or get the pub back – but a Neighbourhood Plan could, and that is the real place where this should be coming forward. It would allow the community to decide what they would like to see in the village and if they wanted the site to be developed, then they could specify what it looks like.”

Cllr Martin Wrigley added: “This does appear to be a suitable place for where we need affordable housing, but unfortunately, we have to make sure we robustly defend the policies for building in the open countryside. While it is allocated as open countryside, we have to refuse this.”

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One of the biggest frustrations in Bickington has been the loss of the pub and the lack of action in doing anything with the site.

The Toby Jug Inn has been closed for 16 years now and is boarded up. Back in 2014, planning permission to convert it into two homes was granted, but nothing happened and the permission has since lapsed.

Village meeting saw huge community support for an attempt to purchase the building – but owners Heavitree Brewery refused to sell.

The Toby Jug Inn in Bickington (Image: Daniel Clark)

But there may be fresh hope for homes finally being built in the village, as new plans for to convert the Toby Jug Inn were submitted this week.